RE PRINTING BRUCE ROLL.

Bruce Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 3103, 29 September 1899, Page 5

RE PRINTING BRUCE ROLL.

To the Editor. Snt, — When a person talks "Shop" the public usually allow him to balk while they pass on. This I would do in Mr Allchin's case, only for the misleading and false statement made by him in regard to the first interview he had with me. In hie letter of the 22nd insfc., he says the Registrar of Electors told him that he " received instructions to wait on Bruce Herald and therefore it left him no option." The next lime the Registrar told him " he had no instructions." hy should Mr A'lchin deliberately apply the first answer I gave him, to the printing of the present) roll ; the first referred to work belonging to my predecessor, and would have been done 12 ' months ago had there been a Registrar of Electors appointed at that time. The work amounted to the printing of the name? of those struck off the roll of 97, and for that roll the Bruce Herald had the contract to print, and was justly entitled to all printing connected with the roll of 97. Now, Mr AUchin knew at the time my reference " to wait on Bruce Herald, "&c, referred tothat printing and not to the present roll, for he returned some time after and enquired if I had received any instructions as to who was to print the roll, when I replied that I had received no instructions. I should like to 3tate that the Registrar of Electors is appointed under> and is subject to the Electoral Acts 1893 and 1896, and Messrs Allen, AUchin and Co.> will find the duties of the Registrar of Electors defined therein, and where a detail such as to who he should employ as printer is not mentioned. The Registrar should be capable of transacting public business as he would his own, quite independent of ministers of the Crown, or eveu " A barn minister" or printer. Mr Allchin in big last letter says " the orders I had in hand were required and I appealed to a brother printer to help me out of my difficulty ; this man was my employee, and I was essentially the printer. Now, Sir, I ask is it because by circumstances beyond my control I am prevented from tendering for printing the Bruce Roll ?'' I might aa well hava asked the Dunedin printing offices to teuder direct. This might have satisfied the hon. member for Bruce, bub not ma. Up to the Ist' August there was only one legally eatab

lished printing office in Milton, and as touching any printing done by Mr Allchin before that date. Section 19 of the "Printers and N.e wspapers Registration Act, 1868," reads as follows :— " If any person keep or use any printing press or types for printing without having delivered the notice and received the certificate hereinbefore required or if after such delivery and: reoeipt he use any printing press or any type tor printing in any other plaoe than the place expressed in such notice he shall forfeit a sum of not less than five or more than twenty pounds." Did Mr Allchin wish me to assist him in breafcing the law ? Under the circumstances there was only one course which would qualify Mr Allchin to do the work, and that course was ot>eu to the hon. member for Bruce had he introduced and succeeded in passing a short Act on the following lives : — An Act to enable Thomas Allchin to command Government printing. Bo it enacted by the General Assembly of New Zealand in Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same as follows : 1 The short title of this Act is " James Allen's First Act." 2 This Act shall come into force on the day Thomas Allchin announces his intention to commence printing in Milton, or any other place in the colony of New Zaaland, when the Governor couaents to the same. 3 Whereas all printing offices in the colony of New Zealand are subject to the pains and penalties contained in section 19 of " The Printers and Newspapers Registration Act, 18b8," and whereas it is considered right by those who profess to advocate purity of administration that Thomas Allchin should be permitted to offend against the aforesaid Printers and Newspapers Registration Act, 1868. 4 From and after the coming into operation of this Act Thoma3 Allcliin shall be entitled to tender for any or all Government printing, should he be prepared to do the work or otherwise, or should his printing office remain unregistered or otherwise nothing in " The Printers and Newspaper Registration Act, 1668 " or any other Act notwithstanding shall affect Thomas Allchin, and no legal proceedings shall be taken against him with respect thereto." The doubt as to whether this Bill would pass must have been the only thing that prevented the hon. gentlemivn from introducing it. — I am, &c, Finlay M'Leod.